Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-12
THE ENQUIRY ENDED.
DEMONSTRATING COMMITTEE FINISHES
Up IFS WORK.
About Thry-Kvs Witnesses Examined i~ssisrday
The SALIENT Points Of the
Evidence.

ACCESSIBILITY OF lSSulnS y iVi N"N
members of the firm of Simpson & HOge,
Of this city, relative to the purchase OF
blankets. referred TO by Mr.. Gallagher,
Tuesday night, and a long discussion en-
sued regarding the propriety OF
the move. There was con-
siderable opposition to allowing the
prosecution to reopen their case, but finally
The prosecution was allowed to telephone
Mr.. Simpson and Mr.. HOge, and if they,
or either of them, would come without a
subpoena, the committee agreed to hear
what they had to say.
DIR. T. r. Rogers was the first witness
called BY the defense. Col. Peck had pur-
chased drsgs OF him; he had heard
of purchases Of drugs from McCabe,
Craft 4 Co, and he had offered
TO sell 10 Col. Peck ten per cent cheaper
than he could buy in Wheeling. On his
making that proposition Col. Peck pur-
chased of him. Witness had attended o n
yicts at the prison; it was rather a difficult
matter to keep the prisoners from ieigning
sickness or playing or
On cross examination witness said he
had attended prisoners twenty or thirty
days under Superintendent West, and not
so long under Superintendent Peek. He
mad never attended convictS before.
On redirect witness said he always gave
prisoners the benefit Of the doubt in mat
tiers of alleged sickness.
DIR. K. W. Hall was sworn. Witness
was asked Us to his opinion OF the compare
tive cruelty of the bull rings and whipping
with the strap. The witness thought the
bull ring was decidedly the most cruel and
injurious to the convict. There was dan
ger of permanent injury to the muscles and
nerves by the bull ring. He did not think
there was danger Of wounds arising from
the Use of the strap, either by a flat blow
OF q stroke with the edge. Ii there were
perfOratiOns, with sharp edges, the skin
might he broken. He examined the straps
and sid he could think OF no cOrporel
punishment less severe han a whipping
with one of those straps. 1t would be pos
sible TO kill a man with the straps, hut
they would not be as severe as whipping
with a whip.
On CrOes-eNaminatiOn witness said he
thought whipping with the strap would
make a bruise which might show TOR several
weeks. II marks would remain for eight
months, it would be a deep bruiSe. \
laceratiOn might get we'll quicker than a
bruiSc in some caSes. II the strap were
applied twenty-five or fifty times in one
place, with the full strength of an Ordi-
nary man, it would bruise the victim very
much, and make the mai very sore. He
would consider that punishment too Sc
we're.
Of a man had been whipped twenty
five or fifty lashes with that strap would
you consider him fit to go to work?
Alt would be owing To what his
work would be-. If it was sitting work he
could not do it. If he had to stand he
could work. Fifty lasheS might ~incapaci-
tate him totally. 1t would take fifty or
more laShes to incapaCitate a man. Aman
would be able, with fifty strokes, to totally
incapacitate a man for work. Fifty lasheS
with 4 whip at IL o'clock and fifty more at
| O'Clock on the same day would be cruel.
Witness could make it cruel. Water
thrown in n mans face for three or five
minutes would smother him a good deal.
He did not know what effect it would have
OH a mans eyes. 1t might chill him some
what.
Mr.. r. W. Brown was recalled. In his
Judgment the Board Of Directors should be-
appointed by the Governor or Board OF
Public Works, and the Board should APP
point the Superintendent, physician, en-
giueer. etc. That would prevent conflicts
of authority and petty jealousie5. The
whole trouble was the conflict between the
Board and the Superintendent and other
officers. Aslt was now the Superintendent
could not remove "A guard; he cOuld only
suspend until the next meeting of the
Board, and it would reinstate the man.
That caused trouble. Ii would be better to
have rs Directors men appointed who live
close to the prison. Witness thought quar-
terly meetings OF the Directors would he
sufficient. 4 good deal OF money in mile
age would lie saved TO the state by having
the Directors live close to the priS-
on. The Director from Kanawha
county would come here in the morning,
leave AT / o'clock in the evening, and
draw about So in mileage and per diem.
Witness did not think the feeling at pres
rnt existing between the Superintendent
and guards Was conducive 10 the best ill.,
terestS OF the prison. He dill not think
the appointment Of = Board of Directors 10y
the Governor or Board of Public Works,
the appointment of the Superintendent by
the Board, and the appointment of guards
by the Superintendent would tend
to rover up abuses and acts
of cruelty. On the contrary,
he thought it would tend 10 better dISei-
pline. Of course, with a corrupt Board Of
Directors abuses might creep in. But the
other State institutions were managed in
that way, and witness did not see why the
p~eDitentiary should not be 80 managed.
As it was now the Board of Directors could
make o. many rules ~ they chose, and if
the Superintendent SHOULD refuse To obey
the Board could do nothing with him ex-
cept to report him to the Governor or the
Legislature; it cOuld not remove him.
David Levi was the next witness. He
had a contract to furnish beef for the
prison. He furnished good heef. He had
never been docked, except for a piece that
was Soiled BY falling in the dirt. lie had
furnished meat fOT Mr.. PecS's family Oft
the same beef sent Ia the prison.
DIR. e.. W. Bruce was sworn. He was
the prison physician and surgeon. He had
been physician NJ the prison for twelve
years or more. He attended at the prison
at least once per day. He never knew OF
a conYict being required to work when he
was i'll. john Faycett died of typhoid
fever. Any puni>ument be might have re
ceiyed had nothing TO do with hls death.
Witness had attended Fawcett right along.
He knew of no inhuman treatment to
Roberts. Roberts had frequent Opportun.
ity to make complaint. As to the punish
mem, be bad seen one or two instances
when convict's eyes bad been infamed for
two or three days from toe ACTION OF water
in the shoe Hy, but it was not serious. lie
never knew OF . convict having 10 perform
work when he wss physically unable.
Witness looked upon Mr.. Peck as ! man
who desired TO do his duty. He was de-
cided in his action when a man needed
punishment, but on the other hand he was
very humane. There had been a good
many deaths from chronic diseases since
Mr. PeeI lame One man from the same
county Fawcett Ss4ls fEom died from the
same diSease-typhoid fever. Gauy Of the
inmates came 10 the prison with serious
complications caused by indiscretions,
while others, coming from the country
a. II -. - -